Skills and training needs for use of electronic information resources (EIRs) among students in four Tanzanian Universities

Abstract

This article is based on a broader study that investigated the status and practice of Information Literacy (IL) for teaching and learning in four Tanzanian universities; namely Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), University of Dar-Es-Salaam (UDSM), Iringa University College (IUCO) and Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT). The primary intention of the study was to establish the best ways of introducing and improving IL programmes in these institutions. The article reports on the findings regarding students’ knowledge, skill and training needs in using Electronic Information Resources (EIRs). Data was collected using a questionnaire-based survey administered to 1123 undergraduate students. Probability sampling was used to sample students across the four universities, faculties and years of study. The response rate was 59.1%. The study findings revealed that although students in Tanzanian universities have access to and use various EIRs both for academic and non-academic work they still lack adequate knowledge and skills in some aspects, including searching and evaluation. The article therefore recommends the development of ICT infrastructures, that librarians and teaching staff become role models and mentors to students in using EIRs, and that teaching staff adopt an active learning and student-centred approach in their teaching as well as strengthening IL programmes as intervention measures for improving students’ skills in using EIRs.